Body fluid barrier films

ABSTRACT

A barrier film is provided for a product used in contact with body fluids. The barrier film comprises a sulfated alkali cellulose ether resin, the resin having a degree of sulfate substitution satisfactory to render the film resistant to body fluids and yet dispersible in low salt concentration aqueous solutions such as those found in a household water closet.

United States Patentv 1191 Tune 1 1 Apr. 2, 1974 1541 BODY FLUID BARRIER FILMS 3,5so,253 5/1971 Bernardin 128/290 w 3,595,237 7/1971 Sargent ct al.. lZX/ZQO R [75] lnvcmm- Tun, 3,658,062 4 1972 Kapur 128/290 R [73] Assignce: Johnson & Johnson, New

Brunswick, NJ.

Primary ExaminerCharlcs F. Rosenbaum [22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1973 [21 I Appl. No.: 323,664

' [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S.Cl 128/290 R, ll7/l43 A, l6l/l5l, 260/224 A barrier film is provided for a product used in [5 l] Int. Cl. A6 13/16 ontact with body fluid5 The barrier film comprises a Field 0f Search sulfated alkali cellulose ether resin, the resin having a 6; 117/14 143 degree of sulfate substitution satisfactory to render the 260/224 film resistant to body fluids and yet dispersible in low salt concentration aqueous solutions such as those [56] References Cited found in a household water closet.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,480,016 1 1/1969 Constanza et al. 7. 128/284 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BODY FLUID BARRIER FILMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION and the like and are likewise useful as liners for such products as bedpans and other receptacles. The films exhibit adequate tensile strength and retain their structural integrity when in contact with the aforesaid body fluids, and are still readily dispersible in water so that the film or the combination of film and product may be flushed away, after use, in a water closet. I

'Heretofore, the choice of suitable barrier-films has been extremely limited in that those properties desirable in films used for this purpose, are infrequently found in combination. For example, the barrier film must be sufficiently' strong to resist disintegration for a reasonable period of time when in use, i.e., the films must be insoluble or at least only slightly soluble in body fluids and must exhibit substantial tensile strength when subjected to such fluids. In conflict with this criterion, it is important that the barrier film be readily dispersible in water so that the absorbent product can be conveniently flushed away. Heretofore, barrier films have been incapable of adequately meeting both criteria.

A suitable barrier film must also have sufficient abrasive strength to withstand wear and tear when the product is one which is to be worn, such as a dressing, a sanitary napkin or a diaper, and at the same time, must be adequately soft and flexible so as to be comfortable and not exhibit the noise or rattling frequently associated with tough resinous films. Once more, these criteria are in conflict and a material suitably possessing both properties has heretofore been unknown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, a barrier film is provided, in a product for contacting body fluids, which is dispersible in water and resistant to said body fluids, said barrier film comprising a film of sulfated alkali cellulose ether resin. Preferably said resin is chosen from the group consisting of alkali' alkyl cellulose ethers, alkali hydroxyalkyl cellulose ethers, and alkali hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose ethers wherein each of the alkyl and hydroxyalkyl groups contain no more than four carbon atoms.

Examples of these resins are such alkali alkyl cellulose sulfates as sodium methylcellulose sulfate, potassium ethyl cellulose sulfate, sodium propyl cellulose sulfate and potassium butyl cellulose sulfate; such alkali hydroxyalkyl cellulose sulfates as sodium hydroxyethyl cellulose sulfate, potassium hydroxypropyl celludegree of sulfate substitution (hereinafter, D.S.) which expresses the average number of sulfate groups per anhydroglucose unit of the cellulosic ether. In general, by increasing the D.S. of a particular resin, the films cast therefrom will exhibit increasing dispersibility in water and decreasing strength in salt solutions. It has been discovered that by utilizing resins having a D5. varying from about 0.07 to about 0.4 a barrier film used, for example, as a protective barrier covering in an absorbent product such as a sanitary napkin or diaper or, alternatively, as a liner for a bedpan or like receptacle, will exhibit sufficient strength in body fluids and will readily disperse in water. Preferably, the D8. should range from about 0.10 to about 0.30, and still more preferably 0.12 to 0.20.

The resins used in the products of this invention have been found to be compatible with a wide range-of readily available plasticizers and, accordingly, these may be incorporated into the barrier film to produce a relatively noiseless, comfortable product such as an absorbent napkin or diaper without affecting its ability to disperse in water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS undergarment liner embodying this invention with lose sulfate and sodium hydroxybutyl cellulose sulfate;

strength in salt solutions such as body fluids while read-' ily dispersing in tap water. It hasfurther been discovered that these unique properties are a function of the parts broken away to show the interior construction thereof; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectionalview taken approximately along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The sulfated cellulose ethers, used to form the barrier films of this invention, may be produced by first forming the ether derivatives of cellulose and then sulfating with a suitable sulfating agent. The ether derivatives are generally prepared by reacting a purified form of cellulose with either an alkyl halide, an alkylene oxide or both to form either the alkyl ether, the hydroxyalkyl ether or the hydroxyalkyl-alkyl ether, respectively. Unsulfated cellulose ethers are presently available as, for example, the methyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose ethers sold under the trademark METl-IOCEL and the ethyl cellulose ethers sold under the trademark ETl-IOCEL, all available from the Dow Chemical Company, Inc. of Midland, Michigan, as well as the ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl ethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl cellulose ethers available from Hercules, Incorporated and the Union Carbide Corporation.

Table I below illustrates properties of typical ethers suitable for sulfating and use in accordance with this invention:

TABLE I Degree of Alkyl Group Compound Viscosity Substitution FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an absorbent pad or Ethyl Cellulose 4-5000 cps 2.2l2.58 Methyl Cellulose 840,000 cps 1.64-4.92 Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose 5060,000 cps l9-33% by weight methyl 4-l2% by weight propylene glycol ether 5% (by weight) ethyl cellulose in 80/20 (by weight) Toluene/Ethanol at 25C. 2% (by weight) Aqueous Solution at 20C. The average degree of substitution of alkyl groups per anhydroglucose unit.

The ethers may be sulfated in accordance with a process described in US. Patent application, Ser. No. 232,371, filed Mar. 7, I972, whereby an alkali sulfating agent is prepared by reacting acetic anhydride with sulfuric acid and an alkali sulfate, all in an acetic acid solution to form alkali acetyl sulfate. The alkali acetyl sulfate is then reacted with the cellulose ether to yield the sulfated alkali cellulose ether resin herein.

Films may be cast by dissolving the resins in a suitable solvent, applying the solution onto a release surface and allowing the solvent to evaporate, leaving behind a film which is then peeled from the release surface. A wide variety of solvents may be used including, for example, water, methanol, ethanol, methylene chloride, methyl or ethyl ketone or various combinations of these. The resin concentrations are limited, on the one hand, by the necessity for maintaining the solution sufficiently dilute so as to exhibit good fluidity and, on the other hand, by the necessity for maintaining the solution sufficiently concentrated so as to limit the volume to be handled to a convenient quantity. In general, it has been discovered that films having thicknesses varying from 0.1 to 5.0 mils can conveniently be prepared from solutions containing about one to about ten percent by weight of sulfated cellulose ether and pref erably from solutions containing about two to five percent by weight of ether. The films are cast on suitable release surfaces such as glass or Teflon coated surfaces.

' For example,excellent translucent, peelable films are obtained from a sulfated ethyl cellulose resin dissolved in a 1:] (by volume) mixture of methanol and methyl chloride and cast, at room temperature, onto a Teflon coated pan.

The films of this invention, cast from sulfated cellulosic ethers, are uniquely suited for use as flushable barrier films in a product used in contact with such body fluids as blood, menstrual fluid, urine, etc. These fluids, in general, exhibit properties which, with respect to the films, are analagous to the aqueous salt solution having a salt content which varies .from about 0.8 to about 1.5 percent by weight of sodium chloride. On the other hand, tap water normally supplied to water closets and the like generally has an extremely low salt concentration of less than about 250 parts per million of chloride ion. It has been discovered that the sulfated cellulosic ethers of this invention maintain their integrity for a substantial period of time in solutions having a salt concentration exhibiting the properties of body fluids, whereas, surprisingly, they display a far lower resistance to dispersion in tap water. It has further been discovered that modifying the D. S. of these resins, the salt resistances-and water dispersability of the films can be modified to suit the particular purposes of this invention, i. e., films which will adequately provide a barrier for body fluids for a suitable length of time and which may be flushed away in a water closet.

Specifically, by lowering the degree of sulfation, the barrier films of this invention become more resistant to salt solutions in that they retain their integrity after being subjected to these solutions for longer periods of time and that they exhibit higher tensile strengths when subjected to a given salt concentration for a given period of time. In general, if the D. S. is maintained, at below about 0.4 an adequately salt resistant film results. Preferably, the D. S. should be maintained at below about 0.3 and more preferably below 0.2. While the resistance of the films to salt solutions having a salt concentration exhibiting the properties of body fluids increases greatly with decreasing D. S., the ability to disperse readily in tap water is maintained until extremely low D. S. values are reached. Adequate tap water dispersibility is achieved when the D. S. is maintained at a value of at least about 0.07. Preferably, the D. S. should not be less than about 0.1 and more preferably not less than about 0.12.

The barrier films of this invention are highly compatible with a great variety of plasticizers which may be incorporated therein to improve such characteristicsof the film as flexibility, resistance to abrasion, and noise, i e., the rattle resulting from the flexing of the film. These properties are particularly important when the barrier films are used in connection with items to be worn such as the aforementioned sanitary napkins, diapers and the like. Water soluble plasticizers such as glycerol and polyethylene glycol are suitable, as well as such water-insoluble plasticizers as castor oil.

When the films of this invention are used inconnection with such products as liners for bedpans and other receptacles for body fluids, they may be cast directly on the inside surface of the receptacle prior to use or may alternatively be precast and then applied to the receptacles. In use, after fluid has been deposited into the lined receptacle, the entire liner, including the deposited fluid may be lifted out of the receptacle and deposited in a water closet. The films of this invention will exhibit sufficient tensile strenth when in contact with the deposited fluid to allow the liner to be lifted out of the receptacle and will at the same time be completely dispersible in a water closet so as to be flushable.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of thedrawing, illustrated therein is an embodiment of the films of this invention as used with a sanitary napkin 10. The napkin comprises an absorbent core 12 of fibrous material such as comminuted woodpulp fibers,'cotton linters, rayon fibers, cotton staple, bleached sulfite linters, other cellulosic or modified cellulosic fibers and the like. Overlying the bottom surface of the absorbent core (that portion of the napkin worn away from the body) is a thin barrier sheet 14 comprising the films of this invention. A fluid pervious cover 16 surrounds the absorbent core 12 and the barrier sheet 14 with the lateral edges thereof overlapped and secured on the bottom surface of thenapkin 10. The cover 16 can be extended beyond the ends of the core 12 to formthe usual attachment tabs 18. While FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a tabbed napkin, it will be understood by one skilled the art that the advantages accruing to the use of barrier films of this invention are equally applicable to a tabless product, e.g., one where tabs are not used as attachemnt means and other attachment means such as, for example, adhesive means, are used.

of the napkin. Menstrual fluid, as other body fluids, exhibits properties, with respect to the film, which are analogous to an aqueous solution having a salt content of about 0.8 to about 1.5 percent by weight and it is within these concentrations that the films of this invention are resistant and impermeable. Notwithstanding the resistance of the films to menstrual fluid when the films are introduced into an aqueous low salt concentration solution, they are dispersible. Accordingly, by employing a water dispersible material for the cover 16 (and a water dispersible core 12) the sanitary napkins of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be completely disposed of in a water closet. Alternatively, the illustrated napkin may be provided with a non-water dispersible cover, in which event the cover would first be removed and the pad and barrier film dropped into a water closet for disposal. In either event, the unique barrier film of this invention will completely disperse in a water closet under the swirling action of the low salt concentrations found therein, and will in no way clog or otherwise impair the operation of the water closet and associate plumbing.

FIGS-3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment of this invention in a napkin of alternative construction. A

sanitary napkin is provided with first and second absorbent layers 22 and 24. Sandwiched therebetween is a barrier sheet 26 comprising the film of this invention. A fluid pervious cover 28 surrounds the absorbent layers 22 and 24, with the lateral edges thereof overlapped and secured on the bottom surface of the napkin 20. As in the prior described embodiment, the cover is illustrated as extending beyond the absorbent layers to form attachment tabs, although it is equally advantageous to use the teachings of this invention in a tables s product. Again the films of this invention are uniquely suited for use as barrier films and while they will preclude the passage of menstrual fluid to the bottom of the napkin, they are completely dispersible in a water closet. Hence, if the napkin 20 is provided with a water dispersible cover, it may be completely disposed of by flushing or, alternatively, if the napkin is provided with a non-water dispersible cover, the cover may be first removed and then the remainder of the napkin may be disposed of by flushing. A particular advantage of a napkin having the construction illustrated in FlG. 20 is that the barrier film located between absorbent layers is less likely to exhibit noise" which could embarrass the wearer and hence the need for the addition of plasticizers to the film is lessened.

In this connection, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that, while two separate absorbent layers have been illustrated, many alternatives are possible, such as, for example, the use of multiple layers or the forming of the layers by simply folding a single sheet of ab-.

sorbent material.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate still another embodiment of this invention. Illustrated thereinis an absorbent pad 30 which is useful as a protective cover for undergarments. The pad is provided with an absorbent core 32. A fluid pervious cover 34 overlies the top (the surface worn against the body) and side portions of the core, the lateral edges also overlying the peripheral portions of the bottom surface of the core. A barrier film 36, in accordance with this invention, is provided to overlie the bottom surface of the core and those portions of the cover 34 overlying the bottom surface The barrier sheet 36 and the cover 34 are secured together and preferably, are secured to the core. The outer surface of the barrier sheet is provided with adhesive means 38 which may be, for example, a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive or a double-faced adhesive tape. The adhesive means 38 is protected, prior to use by a strippable peelable cover 40. In use, the cover 40 is stripped from the napkin exposing the adhesive means. The napkin is then placed, for example, in the crotch portion of a panty and held in place by adhering the barrier film portion to the panty with the adhesive means. Once again, the unique features of the barrier film allow the pad to be readily disposed of by flushing in a water closet.

In order to better illustrate the invention, the following examples are given:

EXAMPLE I A barrier film, suitable for use in accordance with the teaching of this invention, is prepared as follows:

A sulfating agent, sodium acetyl sulfate, is prepared by combining the following ingredients:

Parts by Weight Sodium Sulfate 8.1 Acetic Anhydride (98% pure) 42.8 Glacial Acetic Acid 13.8 Sulfuric Acid (95% pure) 5.3

The sodium sulfate is first added to a mixture of the acetic anhydride and acetic acid at room temperature, the sulfuric acid then being added at a rate such that the temperature of the mixture does not exceed 544C. The resulting solution is neutralized by adding small increments of additional sodium sulfate and is then cooled to 4.4C. and filtered.

ETI-IOCEL Std., a trademark of the Dow Chemical Company for ethyl cellulose ether, is dissolved in acetic acid in a proportion of 45.4 parts by weight of resin in 1 15 parts of acetic acid. ETl-IOCEL Std. has a degree of ethyl substitution of 2.46 to'2.58 and a 5 percent by weight solution of the resin dissolved in a solvent mixture of toluene and ethyl alcohol in the proportions of to 20 parts by weight, respectively, and measured at 25C.- has a viscosity of 40 to 50 cps. The resin is dissolved in the acetic acid by mixing, in a jacketed, sigma blade mixer, for about 30 minutes at a jacket temperature of 38C. The jacket temperature is then dropped to 15C. and held at that temperature until the reaction mixture has cooled at 21C.

The sulfating solution is then added incrementally over a period of 20 minutes, taking care not to exceed a reaction temperature of 32C. The resulting reacted mixture is then added to an aqueous, ten percent by weight, sodium hydroxide solution in a ratio of one part by weight of reacted mixture to ten parts by weight of the sodium hydroxide solution. This mixture is stirred vigorously and the pH is maintained at approximately ten by the addition of requisite quantities of additional 10 percent sodium hydroxide solution.

The resulting precipitated resin is separated from its mother liquor by filtering in a Buchner funnel. The precipitate is then dried at a temperature of 50C. in a forced-air oven and ground in a Wiley mill, to a particle size of from one to two millimeters in diameter. The

ground particlesare washed by combining them with ten times their weight of boiling water and stirring vigorously while adjusting the pH to a value of 5.5 with the addition of 10 percent by weight of hydrochloric acid solution. The precipitate resulting from this washing step is filtered, dried and ground in the manner described above. The washing step and the filtering, drying, and grinding are repeated once again.

integrity and to support a load as functions of both the salt concentration and the D.S. of the starting resin. The films cast from the highly sulfated resins are relatively soluble in both distilled water and a 0.9 percent The resulting resin has a degree of sulfate substitusodium chloride solution and so lose their structural intion of 0.43. The resin is dissolved in methanol to a tegrity in a relatively short period of time, although it concentration of 6.6 percent by weight. A film is cast should be noted that even for these relatively soluble, with this solution in an 8 X 8 inch Teflon coated pan. highly sulfated resinous films, there is a marked differ- The resulting film peels easily from the Teflon pan and ence in the break up time when the films are alternais translucent and flexible. 10 tively subjected to the tWO different fluids. AS the D.S.

of the starting resins is decreased, a rapid increase in EXAMPLE II the time is noted for the films in contact with the 0.9

A series of resins are produced in accordance with percent sodium chloride solution whereas, for those the method described in Example I with the exceptions films in contact with the water, the elapsed time, while that the relative quantity of sulfating agent is varied in [5 increasing with ecreasing D.S. does so at a signifieach, as tabulated in Table II below, to provide a varycantly slower rate, thereby resulting in the differential ing D. S. The viscosity of the unsulfated ETHOCEL is resistance to disintegration, unique to the barrier films likewise varied as shown in Table II. A series of films of this invention. At extremely low D.S. values, the are cast from each of the resins and tested to determine elapsed time in both solutions is quite long. their respective abilities to maintain structural integ- A similar functional relationship between decreasing rity, hereinafter the break up time, is measured by plac- D.S. value and salt resistance .is noted in the tensile ing a 3 cm square film sample having a thickness of strength test. Generally, it is noted that the ability to about 2 mi] (i 0.3 mils) into a 250 ml beaker and covwithstand tensile stress when in contact with aqueous ering said sample with 150 ml of the test liquid. The fluids increases with decreasing D.S. value. This propbeaker is then stirred with a magnetic stirrer having a erty is of great significance when the barrier films are Teflon coated magnet rotating at 90 rpm. The time to be used as a bedpan liner, for example. Further, in elapsed before the sample disintegrates is the break up accordance with the teachings of 'the invention, the time and is reported in Table ll. functional relationship with respect to salt sensitivity The films are further tested to determine their reshould be noted, i.e., the rate of increase in stress bearspective tensile strength when subjected to various liqing ability with decreasing D.S. value is far greater in uids for various periods of time. Film samples measured 0.9 percent sodium chloride solutions than in water. three inches by one inch are immersed in the particular To illustrate the salt sensitivity for a wide range of test liquid for the specified period of time and then imsulfated cellulosic ether films, the following example is mediately tested in an lnstron machine, at a jaw separagiven. tion of two inches and a crosshead-speed of two inches per minute. The results of these tests, as well as the dry EXAMPLE tensile strengths are reported in Table lll. Films are prepared from partially sulfated sodium methyl cellulose sulfate, sodium ethyl cellulose sulfate TABLE II and sodium hydroxypropyl cellulose sulfate, the films Viscosity of Break Up Time (Sec. 1 being prepared as follows: gagg e "@355 $33 Partially sulfated sodium ethyl cellulose sulfate is sum lt us. (ccntipoises) 11,0 Nu Cl Na Cl prepared in accordance wlth the method of Example I 5 2' to produce a resin having a D.S. value of 0.47. A film 3 01229 90 39 90 is prepared from this resin in accordance with Example 2 jg 660 I. Partially sulfated sodium methyl cellulose ether is h 0:193 45 13:; 48 hr. prepared from METHOCEL MC, a trademark of the 7 330 43 Dow Chemical Company, lnc., for methyl cellulose g 812? 2 48 ether having a degree of methyl substitution of 1.64 to 20 min 1.92 and a viscosity of about 8,000 cps when a 2 per- :2 26 50 cent aqueous solution is measured at 20C. The sulfat- TABLE III Tensile strength/sample thickness (lbs. per square in./mil.)

30-minute immersion IZO-minute immersion Viscosity of unsullated 0.9% by 2.0% by 0.9% by 2.0% by D.S. Ethoccl 11,0 wt. NaCl wt. NaCl 1110 wt. NaCl wt. NaCl 50 0.277 45 ("l o. 221 so (*1 t") t) 0. 20a 45 ('1 40/1. 7 92/11; 103/1. 8 0.19:1 45 (*i 113/1. 0 0) 78/21 0.1113 45 m /22 211/23 52/21 175/22 0.175 18/24 454 23 596/29 441/25 546/24 0.166 .10 ass/2.9 408/26 505/311 323/27 431/24 671/26 0. ms 0 509/25 668/25 878/24 529/25 652/24 890/24 0. 151 e111 1,01 7/23 1, 118/215 1,360/23 816/26 048/27 1,135/a0 0.12. no l,-l. /'..3 1,355, 20 1, 557 21 1,25u 23 1,170/21 1,32 23 Sample does not have suliiciellt structural integrity to measure.

Tables ll and Ill clearly illustrate the variation in the films with respect to their ability to maintain structural ing is carried out following the procedure described in Example I using the sulfating agent prepared in accordance with that example and resulting in a resin having a BS. value of 0.29. A film is cast from this resin from a 6.6 percent by weight methanol solution. A translucent, flexible, peelable, film results.

Partially sulfated sodium hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose sulfate is prepared from METHOCEL HG, a trademark of the Dow Chemical Company, Inc., for hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose ether having a weight percent substitution of 19-33 percent methoxyl and 4l2 percent propylene glycol ether and a viscosity (Ubbelonde viscometer) of about 4,000 cps. when a 2 percent aqueous solution is measured at 20C. The sulfating is carried out following the procedure described in Example I using the sulfating agent prepared in accordance with that example and resulting in a resin having a D. S. value of 0.31. A film is cast from this resin from a 6.6 percent by weight methanol solution. Again, a translucent, flexible, peelable film results.

To test the salt sensitivity of these films, two 3 cm by 3 cm samples of each of these aforementioned films are submerged in'awell-stirred bath of water and an aqueous 1.6 percent by weight sodium chloride bath solution, both baths being maintained at a temperature of about 24C. The time required for each of the films to disintegrate is reported below. The break up time of samples of each of these films are tested in accordance with the method of the preceding example and are recorded in Table IV below;

TABLE IV Break Up Time Film Component D. 5. H O 1.6% Na Cl Sodium Methyl Cellulose Sulfate 0.29 4 min. 30 sec. l3 min. 30 sec.

Sodium Ethyl Cellulose Sulfate 0.47 20 sec. 1 min. 50 sec. Sodium Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose 0.31 l min. 53 sec. 4 min. 3| sec.

Sulfate As shown in the above table, each of the resinous films exhibited a greater resistance-to the salt solution than to deionized water, this property being unique to the films of this invention.

To illustrate the compatability of the barrier films of this invention, with plasticizers, the following example is given.

EXAMPLE IV The procedures'of Example I are used to produce partially sulfated sodium ethyl cellulose sulfate with the exception that in the case indicated in the table below, various plasticizers were incorporated into the casting solutions. These films were then tested in accordance with the tensile strength test described above to determine the effect of the plasticizers on the salt sensitivity of the films. The results are reported in Table V.

EXAMPLE V the composition given below, is applied at a rate of 0.29

cubic centimeters per minute and the form is operated at a speed of 60 cycles per minute.

1 The fluid capacity of the napkin under dynamic conditions is measured by the total volume of fluid applied at the time of failure, i. e., the time at which spotting is noted on the underside of the napkin. This quantitative test is translated qualitatively as follows:

Fluid Capacity at Failure (cc of Liquid) Rating 20 Excellent 15 Very Good 10 v Good 7 Fair 5 Inadequate The results of the dynamic test are given below. Un-

less indicated otherwise, a one-ply barrier film is employed.

TABLE V Barrier Film Fluid 7 Thickness Capacity Qualitative Sample (mils) (cc liq.) Rating I 0.6 l7.l very good excellent 2 7 L2 13.] good very good 3 L8 24.6 excellent 1 4 l 8 (double 16.5 very good excellent ply) Polyethylene Film 0.6 19.6 very good excellent As shown in the above table, the barrier films of this invention performed comparably to the standard polyethylene film and, in contrast to the standard film, has the advantage of being flushable.

It should be appreciated by one skilled in the art that based on the teachings of this invention, films may be designed to particularly function in a specificicapacity. For example, when used in napkins, it isclear that the barrier'films contact only absorbent materials dampened with menstrual fluid whereas when dispersed of, the napkins are fully immersed in a swirling tap water environment. Accordingly, barrier films used for those purposes may be designed so as to be thinner and a wide range of D. S. may be employed. On the other hand, where the films are used as a liner for bedpans, the films are generally immersed in body fluid and may have to remain in such a condition for a substantial time. Accordingly, thicker, more salt resistant films should be used.

The resins of this invention may be combined with other materials and will still exhibit the salt sensitive features when cast into film form. For example, successfully salt sensitive films have been produced by combining sodium ethyl cellulose sulfate with such diverse and substantially less expensive materials, such as titanium dioxide, kaolin and acrylic resin, these materials being referred to herein as inexpensive extenders.

Films have been cast from solutions of such mixtures in methanolsolvent andhave preserved the salt sensitive characteristics of those films described above while, by

virtue of the use of these inexpensive extenders have substantially decreased the cost of the films.

it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that many modifications to the invention are possible without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

I. In a product for contacting body fluids, a barrier film comprising a sulfatcd alkali cellulose ether resin, said resin having a degree of sulfate substitution satisfactory to render said film resistant to said body fluids and dispersible in a water closet.

2. The product of claim 1 wherein the sulfated alkali cellulose ether has a degree of sulfate substitution of about 0.07 to about 0.4.

3. The product of claim 2 wherein the sulfated alkali cellulose ether is a sulfated alkali alkyl cellulose ether, said alkyl group having from one to four carbon atoms.

4. The product of claim 2 wherein the sulfated alkali cellulose ether is a sulfated alkali hydroxyalkyl cellulose ether, said alkyl group having from one to four carbon atoms.

5. The product of claim 2 wherein the sulfated alkali cellulose ether is a sulfated alkali hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose ether, said alkyl groups each having from one to four carbon atoms.

6. The barrier film of claim 1 wherein said body fluid contacting product is a sanitary napkin.

7. The barrier film of claim I wherein said body fluid contacting product is a bedpan.

8. The barrier film of claim 1 wherein said film further comprises a plasticizer.

9. The barrier film of claim 1 wherein said film further comprises an inexpensive extender.

10. The barrier film of claim 1 wherein said body fluid contacting product is a diaper. 

2. The product of claim 1 wherein the sulfated alkali cellulose ether has a degree of sulfate substitution of about 0.07 to about 0.4.
 3. The product of claim 2 wherein the sulfated alkali cellulose ether is a sulfated alkali alkyl cellulose ether, said alkyl group having from one to four carbon atoms.
 4. The product of claim 2 wherein the sulfated alkali cellulose ether is a sulfated alkali hydroxyalkyl cellulose ether, said alkyl group having from one to four carbon atoms.
 5. The product of claim 2 wherein the sulfated alkali cellulose ether is a sulfated alkali hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose ether, said alkyl groups each having from one to four carbon atoms.
 6. The barrier film of claim 1 wherein said body fluid contacting product is a sanitary napkin.
 7. The barrier film of claim 1 wherein said body fluid contacting product is a bedpan.
 8. The barrier film of claim 1 wherein said film further comprises a plasticizer.
 9. The barrier film of Claim 1 wherein said film further comprises an inexpensive extender.
 10. The barrier film of claim 1 wherein said body fluid contacting product is a diaper. 